FSA will monitor local authorities

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) is to monitor the monitors after a study of the food safety activities of local authorities suggested some were more active and effective than others.

While nearly half of all inspected food premises breached health and hygiene rules last year, the number of inspections fell by 2% (see panel below). Wide variations were detected between local authorities in their priority rating of premises, and inspection and food sampling (testing) rates.

"It is not acceptable for the infringements to continue at these levels, nor is it acceptable for consumers not to know how effectively they are being protected," said Sir John Krebs, chairman of the FSA.

However, the FSA added that the data - which is quantitative rather than qualitative - was too "sketchy and unco-ordinated" for it to assess each authority's performance. Councils might have good reasons for focusing on one area rather than another, said the agency, but the figures give no hint of them.

Earlier this month the FSA concluded a public consultation on a framework agreement to gather more useful information from local authorities. This will be debated by board members in September and is expected to come into force next April. The FSA hopes to be able to publish performance tables from the following April.

For now, those providing questionable data will be asked for more information or explanations. Where question marks remain, the authorities face a programme of visits and, if this proves unsatisfactory, a full investigatory audit.

The 22 local authorities who tested no food samples last year will be the first to be targeted.

by Angela Frewin